Underframe.



J. M. ROHLFING.

UNDERFBAME.

APPLICATION IILLD MAY 7, 1912.

1,066,532, Patented July 8, 1913.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

ATTORNEY J. M. ROI-ILPING.

UNDBRFRAME. APPLICATION FILED MAY 7, 1912.

Patented July 8, 1913.

5 SHEETS-BHEET 2.

INVENTOR ATTORN EY J. M. ROHLFING.

UNDEBFRAME.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 7, 1912.

Patented July 8, 1913.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

INVENTOR WITNESSES B m 1% H. M

ATTORNEY J. M. ROHLFING.

UNDERFRAME.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 1, 1912.

5 BHEETBBHEET 5.

Patented July 8, 1913.

INVENTOR 3M 91:. ym/ W4 ii/rrlvtssts ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

fOI-IN M. ROHLFING, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR 'DO AMERICAN CAR AND FOUNDRY COMPANY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OF NEW JEBS)? UNDERFRAME.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 8,1913.

Application filed May 7, 1912. Serial No. 695,728.

To (1/6 who/w U WLU'I/ concern.

Be it known that l, JOHN M. Rounriso. residing at- St. Louis, Missouri. and being a citizen of the United States, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Underframes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and to use the same, reference being had to the accompanying draw ings, which illustrate the preferred form of the invention, though it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, as it is obvious that various modifications thereof will occur to persons skilled in the art.

In said drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view of half of a car underframe equipped with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of half of the car, the section being taken on line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an end view showing the end sill in full. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view; the section being taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1, and illustrates the first cross bearer back of the bolster. Fig. 5 is a trans verse sectional view; the section being taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 1. and illustrates the formation of all cross bearers intermediate those next adjacent the bolsters. Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view; the section being taken on line (3-0 of Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view; the section being taken on line 77 of Fig. 1, illustrating the body bolsters in elevation. Fig. 8 is an enlarged reproduction of the left hand portion of Fig. 2 showing the parts immediatelv adja ent the bolster considerably enlarged, the section being taken on line 8* '8 of Fig. (3. Fig. 9 is a detached elevational view of a pressed channel draft sill used with one form of the invention. in which the draft sill extends through the bolsters. Fig. .10 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken on line 10 -10 of Fig.1, showing the parts considerably enlarged. Fig. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line ll-ll of Fig. (3 and showing the central portion of the parts shown in smaller size in Fig. 7. Fig. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed sectional view through the first cross bearer back of. the bolster showing in enlarged de tail the parts immediately under Fig. 2

of Fig, 2 comprising the first cross bearer back of the bolster of Fig. 2 and fragments of the parts adjacent thereto. Fig. 13 illustrates a modification showing means for connecting draft sills to center sills by means of continuous splice plates extending through the bolsters, to which splice plates are connected the draft sills and the short web of the center sills; this last modification being designed to facilitate removal of the draft sills of the undcrframe. Fig. 'l-"l is a greatly enlarged fraglmntary detail of the parts shown in Fig. 6 adjacent the bolster.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, light and strong underframe, which is designed especially for the purpose of resisting butting shocks and is made up of relatively solid web parts between the end sills and first cross bearer, thus extend-' ing through the bolsters and of open truss formation between the first cross bearers.

Experiments have demonstrated that open trussed umlerframes in which the truss is open throughout their length between the bolsters will not withstand the enormous stresses incident to service; in consequence of which underframes of the open truss type, unless formed of sections of metal so heavy as to be too expensive to manufacture, cannot be successfully used.

As it is desirable in car construction to not only provide under-frames which are sutlieicntly strong to resist service stresses, but also to produce such underframes of as light weight as possible. consistent with wear and tear of service. I have designed the present underframc, which may be said to be of the composite type comprising plate girder formation to the first cross bearer back of the bolster and of open truss type between said first cross bearers.

Referring to the parts: The bottom membt'l'S of the underframe between the bolsters consist, at each side of the central line. of a pair of angles F G placed back to back. that is. with their vertical legs extending parallel or closely juxtaposed and with their outstanding flanges projecting in opposite directions for the middle portion of their length. From the second cross bearer -]-1-- back to the bolster these angles diverge, the outer angle G being continuous from bolster to bolster, while the inner angle I-- is deflected upwardly as shown. in

Fig. 52 and passes over the filler *B which is preferably of pressed liox formation between the central longitudinal sills, While the diaphragms -B---- of the first cross bearer are deeper than said filler and extend to a. higher plane, as best shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings so that the tops of the diaphragi'us --B"-'-- may be connected to the top members --S-- of said Center sills by means of discontinuous tie plates 1 which are secured through rivets through the top flanges of the diephragins B and through. the inwardly extending flanges 2 of the Z shaped top members -S- of the center sill.

AF; will be noted in Fig. 12 and in Fig. 2 the angle section QL passing over the tiller B is connected by through rivet to the inner flange of the lirst arose bearer diaphragms lfi and extends theme for warilly and is riveted to the short sill plate 4r whirh extends from said first oross bearer to the holeuier 5 Wh. h bolster comprises theusual. pressed di: iragn'is with top and bot-- tom cover plate the top plate extending over the inward trxteneion 7 of the draft :E'lll and the bottom plate extendi' below the center sille as best shown, in I J 11.

lkteniling front :1 line eomewhat back of the holster is a spline plate (.1 which passes through the bolster and is .elimvn in the sectional View Fig. 1% and laps the roar ward extension 'I of the draft sill 8 through rivets[connecting the outstanding llang ee of the diaphrzignis ol' the holster and the bolster filler with said rearward extension 7 of the draft sill and with said splice plate 6, thereby firmly sc uring these parts to gether.

'lhe dral't sill preferably Mind of pressed sheet metal with top and flanges; the bottom llango extending tront-inuously from the carry iron t to the boh ster flanges, While the top llangge oi the tll'ti ll sill extends forwardly from the lm 'ltfil to the end. sill 1th .vhieh end prefix l v holy of 2 section with vertical web and horizon tal flanges 11 and 1517, the latter iian o r31- t'ending into the slot l3 formed in the .lrafi sill, as best shown in Figs 8 and 9.

The draft sills are c nnected by means; of angle plates lsl with said end sill lit The l'lOllZUHllll flanges; of said angle 'nhttrs; are riveted directly to the top llan oi the draft sills and the vertiral thing: i f inn? plates are rooted through the e3: ot he end sill. as hos iou'n J" v l Counertwl with the and sill on the (N131 ri r l rl Will vol-l,

oottoin draft sills, and the flanges ll of the end sills thereby stillening the end portion of said draft sills and providing suitable supports for the striking, casting 15.

It will be observed that the top members .5 of the renter sill extend from the rear part of the draft sills at one end of the car to a correspondin position at the opposite end; said members passing over the cover plate of the body holsters and lapping the bolster lillers llf, while the rontinuous cover "plate 17 is connected by through rivets with the horizontal flanges of said members it being understood that the trusses referred to are parallel and are connected by said top sill cover plate, Which latter is eo-extensive with the Z sections Each of the cross bearers is provided with tie plates 1, which extendbelow the bottom flange of the Z section -S and said tie plates are secured thereto by rivet connection.

Conneeted with the top flanges of the diaphragms of each of the cross bearers are snitahle nailing strips 20, said nailing strips being preferably of wood and extending slightly above the plane of the sill cover plate 17 so that flooring carried by the strips will olear the rivets connecting the said "(nor plate to the top member of the center sills. Corresponding nailing strips are (fll'l'lttl by the side sills 21, Which latter are preferably of 2 section secured to ressed fillers 22, which fillers are riveted through their vertical flanges to the Said' bottom ehords of the girder formed by the I vrnter sills and their top cover plate, are I nzninertetl by rertiral angles 23 Wl'llCll angles iiitTUllllCCtt'il ilirel'tly to the vertical flanges ol the mliuili angles and to the webs of the -"--ii n.-. h gusset plates 24 being 4t t the contiguous vertical webs and magnet rvllltl Z sections and angles for the pin'pwe ol securing them together. Conimett-(l to these gusset plgrtes are dine' ual ln'n'fr f2?) cooperating with the verl and lwnrizontnl members of the underral tru s; this provision he carried throughout d wherever diagonal h said horizontal t of the unil'illlQZS 26 are mprise it are .,bolster and first cross bearers back of such bolsters, the angles G- are connected by a relatively heavy plate 30, shown in full lines in Fig. 6, in dotted lines in Fig. l, and in section in Figs. 2 and 8. This plate ex tends from a line adjacent the first cross bearer and laps the draft sills, to the lower flanges of which it is connected by through rivets, thus serving as a connectorfor the lower parts of said draft sills and also for the bolster filler 16, bolster diaphraglns and bottom cover plate of the bolster. As will be seen in Figs. 6 and 8, this plate is perforated at 81 for the passage of the usual center hearing pin and the center bearing is riveted directly through the plate 39, Thus it will be evident that said plate serves as a stiffening member for the draft sills, center sills and for the bolster, tying these parts securely together.

Including the top sill cover plate 17, bottom plate 30, splice plates 6, rearward extension 7 of the draft sill, or in the alternative construction the sill plates .17, 30 and splice plate ti, with the 2 sections -S-- and angles -G-- will be evident. that a very stiff box-girder is provided in the immediate vicinity of the bolster, to which the draft. sills are connected in such manne' as will best resist stresses incident to bufiing, and where draft rigging: of suitable capacity is used to do its share in absorbing buffing shocks there will be practically none of these shocks transmitted to the lower middle portion of the underfraine. In consequence of this the said lower middle part may be formed of such light. sections as will carry the su 'ierposml weight of the car and its lading without the necessity of providina heavier sections to resist bufling stresses.

I claim- 1. In a car uinlcrfrainc, end sills, bolsters and a plurality of crossbcarcrs between said bolsters, of a pair of spaced draft sills, short plate girder sills from the bolsters to their next adjacent crossbearer and an open truss girder between said Cl(iH9-l)t;\l'tIS.

2. In a car underfranie, end sills, bolsters and a plurality of cross-bearers between said bolsters, of a pair of spaced draft sills, short plate girder sills from the bolsters to their next adjacent cross-bearer and an open truss girderbetween said cross bearers, the

7 upper chord of said open girder lapping said short plate girder sills.

In a car ulnlcrfraine, end sills, bolsters and a. plurality of crossbearers between said bolsters, of a pair of spaced draft sills, short plate girder sills from the bolsters to their next adjacent crossbcarcr and an open truss girder between said cross bearers, the upper chord of said open gzirdcr lapping said draft sill.

4. In a car uinlcrfranie, end sills, bolsters and a plurality of crossbearers between said bolsters, of a pair of spaced draft sills,short plate girder sills from the bolsters to their next adjacent cross bearer and an open truss girder between said cross bearers, the upper chord of said open girder connecting the draftsills to the plate girder sills.

In a car ulnlerfranie, end sills, bolsters and a plurality of cross-bearers between said bolsters, of apair of spaced draft sills, Short plate girder sills from the bolsters to their next adjacent cross-bearer and an open truss girder between said cross bearers, one chord of said open girder lapping the bolsters. I

G. In a car underfraine, end sills, bolsters and a plurality of cross-bearers between said bolsters, of a pair of spaced draft sills, short plate 'irt'ler sills from the bolsters to their next adjacent cross beare and an open truss girder between said cross bearers, one chord of said open girder connecting draft sill s/at opposite ends of the uinlerfrane.

7. In a car underfraine, end sills, bolsters and a plurality of cross-bcarcrs between said bolsters, of a pair of spaced draft sills. short plate girder sills from the bolsters to their next adjacent cross-bearer and an open truss girder between said cross-bearers, one chord of said open girder being divided and being connected to the upper and to the lower portion of said short plate girder.

8. In a car underframe, end sills, bolsters and a plurality of cross-bearers between said bolsters, of a pair of spaced draft sills, short plate girder sills from the bolsters to their next adjacent cross'bcarcr and an open truss girder between said cross bearers, and a bottom cover plate connected with said bolsters and extending to the cross bearer next adjacent each bolster.

9. In a car nnderfranle, end sills, bolsters and a plurality of cross-bearers between said bolsters. of a pair of spaced draft sills, short plate girder sills from the bolsters to their next adjacent cross-bearer and an open truss girder between said crosgbmircrs, the upper chord of said open girder lapping the bolstcrs and bottom sill cover plates lapping said draft sills and extending inwardly between said bolsters nearly to said nextadjaccnt crosslwarers.

10. In a car uinlerfranie, end sills, bolsters and a plurality of cross-bearers between said bolsters, of a pair l. spared dral't Hills, short i termed partly of apared box plate girder sills llOlli the lJUlSttl'n to their next. adjacent (7I'0SS" JQlll'(ll' and an open truss girder between said Cross-bearers, a top sill rover plate lapping said draft sills at each end of the ui'ii'lerframe and short ill rover 1 plates at eaeti end lapping said drat't sills and said short plate girder sillsi .l 1.. In a. war underframe, end Sills, l)\)lc-l,(5l'S and a plurality of eross-oearers between aid bolsters. of a pair of spa e l. draft sills. nllOll plate girder sills from the bolsters to their next adjaeent cross-bearer and an open trus girder between said (,IOmlJtttltEl'S, said short plate girder sills tornnng parts of box gird ers extending .at each side of each bolster.

12. In a car undertrame, end sills, bolsters. a plurality of Pro posite open trusa center sill With a plate portion extending atealh side of each bolster and extending to a erossbearm'.

13. In :1 Par undorframe. a ('oinbination comprising )Oi$-It 3l. a renter sill of part1 open trusa eonstruelion between said bolsters continuous cross bearers extendii through said truss and erosq bearers eol'nprising spaced diaphragms and tillers loeated Within. the sill.

14. In a war underframe, the combination eomprising bolsters. a renter sill o'l partly open truss formation between said bolsters;

Said sill comprising tension members and compression prembers, and rrlosobearers, some of the tension members extending over rertain of said cross-bearers and some of the tension members extending under 001" tain of said oross-bearere.

15. In a car, a center s-;ill. partly com:

posed of box girders and partly eon'iposed girders, the ltit't'lfll gllilfil'S eonipiising ten-- S1011 members, a plurality of erossbearers sion members.

16. In a car, a renter hill parity composed bearers and a comof box girders, with "iiililllltftllatt portiom f of open lattice girder formation, boleteris eonneeted with said box girder, and (I'(\F Z bearers, some of which extend through saitl lattice girder and some of whii'h are intermitted at said lattice girder.

17. In a car underframe including a bol- -ster, a center sill formed partly of spat-ed box girders and partly of open lattire'girder formation with partapt the lattir'e girder lapping the box girders and bohtei.

18. ]n a ear underfraine. a router 't'ormed pa tly of splat-ell boa gird rs partly oi. open lattire grirrler formation he latt ce alter lapping: the box nd lifsl'al-fltalhhttttiil with the box lapp d by exleimmns oi' the rar uni frame. a center sill irders and partly oi open lattii girder forn'iation with parts of the lattire girder extending beyond the box girlie; and built up bolsters eom prising pa rte ol' the box girder portions and vied to lapping ext nsions of the lab I ler pinion.

In a railway up a combination sonia 6Piil'ill lor- .aulinal girder formed with box girder end portions and intermediate open lattii'e l'oriuation. a renter learin; plate i'ia'aieraiiiig' with tlll'll box girder poi-titan a bolster Mten ling laterally from and vouiprninn' an intermediate portion of each bot girderportion, said bolster being oi'i'ala 'ipial by an extension of the latti e i'liiltl portion and erov lwa ailing through and hit ill than a .lattire portion.

In a. rail\i'a Put. a, roiunalion (H1151- ventral llmggi ul'linal g rder formed with box girder r-n l po lion; and inl rino l i: open lattite formation. :1 writer l ra:- i11 piatt, t-ot peratiug with earl: box girder portion. a holater extending laterally from and roinprising an intermediate portion of each box rder portion, said holder being lapprd by an eXten .n f the latlive girder portion, and interinitti-d (nth-5* !l ftll'tl'S, and tillers in alinenzent tilllilWltll within the lab l i-"e p rtion r unw'ted lo the box girder portion.

3;), In a railway ear, :1 f" i-!lllJlll2lll ')ll roar prising a central longii udinal girder tornaal with l girder end llUIllUIlS and interme- UUX diaie open latiiee t'orniation, a center b ring -late i-oiiperatiog with each box girder portion. a bolster extending laterally from and eoiupr aing an inleru'ieilnite portion of of Open lattice girders intermediate the box arl: box girder portion, said bolater being lapped by an extension of the lattice girder portion and continuous and intermitted bearers extending transversely of said it udinal girder.

in an inidertranie. a Center sill cone pris in: an open lattice girderterminating in a b x girder at earl) end, holsters within the box girder portion and a. top cover plate throughout; the .maior portion of the sill lapping: said bolatersi.

J1. in an undertrame, a center sill eonr p 'isinQ an open lattice girder terminating in a box girder at earh end, bolsters within the box girder portion and a top cover plate throughout the major portion of the sill extending over and beyond said bolsters.

In an uurlert'ranie, a (enter Sill (0|1l.- prieuig an lattii-r girder terminating, in a box g2; at; arh end, bolsters eonneetod with th oox girder portion and a. top eover plate throughout the major portion of the sill extending in a higher plane than said holsters and connected with draft sill 1 portions beyondsaid bolsters.

26. In an under-frame, a center sill com- -web portions betw'eeh' each endsill and the next adjacent cross bearer, and open web portions between said cross-bearers.

28. In a car un'der frame, a center sill comprising an open truss betwe'en cross-bearers and a box girder between the v cross-bearers and "ljacent-endsill.

29. 11 a car underframe, a center sill comprising anopen truss between cr0ss-bearers and a box girder between the cross-bearers and adjacent end sill, said box girder including a build-up bolster.

30. In acar underframe, including end sills, bolsters, and cross-bearers between said bolsters, a relatively light open work center sill between certain cross-bearers and relatively heavy members forming a continuaof said center sill extending to the end 51 s.

- 31. In a car under-frame, including end sills, bolsters and cross-bearers between said bolsters, a relatively light open workcenter sill between certain cross bearers, relatively heavy members forming a continuation of said center sill extending tothe end sills, and plates connecting and overlapping both the open work center sill and the heavy member.

32. In a car underframe, a center sillcomprising members spaced apart vertically and horizontally, the ends of certain of the members in'the lower plane connected with certain of the members in the upper plane, vertical connectors and a cross bearer connected with said connectors and with the members in the upper plane.

33. In a car underframe, a center sill comprising members disposedin an upper plane,

and members having their major portion disposed in a relatively lower planeand having diverging end portions, and a sill plate connecting said end yportions.

34. In a car underframe, a center sill comprising members disposed in an upper plane and members having their major portion disposed in a-relatively lower plane and having diverging end portions, and a sill plate connecting said end portions with one of the members in said upper plane.

, 35; In a car underframe, a bolster, a cross bearer, a center sill comprising members spaced vertically, certain of the lower 'members overlapping said cross-bearer and certain other of saidlower members underlapping said cross-bearer.

36. In a car underframe, a bolster, across bearer, a center sill comprising members spaced vertically, the upper members over-. lapping said cross-bearer and b0lster,-and certain of the lower members underlapping said cross-bearer and extending to said bolster, and certain other of said'lower members overlapping.said-cross-bearer.

37. In a car underframe, a center sill comprising horizontally spaced z-shaped compression Inembers'and horizontally spaced tension members, said tension-members each comprising a pair of angles fastened to gether for a part of their length and spaced apart for a part of their length, and struts connecting the tension members with the compression members.

38. An underframe comprising spaced center sills including vertical ,web plates,;

top chords, bottom chords and vertical connectors for said top and bottom chords, of

continuous Hanged crossbearers extending through and connecting said spaced center sills and connected to said top chord. V

39. An underframecomprising spaced center sills comprising web, plates and truss girders, of continuous flanged cross bearers connecting said center sills and secured by direct rivet connection" 'with the upper.

chords of said truss girders.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set' my hand in the presence of two witnesses. JOHN M. ROHLFING. Witnesses;

, 'O'SoAR Hocrmunc,

F neonurcic" H. Gums. 

